Patio cover



M. ORLOFF PATIO COVER Sept. 4, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 14, 1959 fi I I K .3 mm. m fit Maurice Or/aff INVENTOR.

BY @Iw and M. ORLOFF Sept. 4, 1962 PATIO COVER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 14, 1959 Maurice Or/aff INVENTOR.

United E tates Patent dice 3,052,290 Patented Sept. 4, 1962 3,0523% PATIO COVER Maurice Orlofi, PA). Box 602, Beverly Hills, Calif. Filed Oct. 14, I959, Ser. No. 846,467 11 Claims. (Cl. 16081) This invention relates generally to shelters and more particularly to covers for patios.

An object of the invention is to provide a portable cover for a patio or like area, wherein the cover is capable of folding to a neat compact position when it is not being used or when it is either unnecessary or undesirable to have a shade condition or for any other reason, and also capable of being folded very easily to the extended position. In this position the patio or like area is covered very neatly.

Briefly, the invention is embodied in a patio cover having a frame made of a pair of cantilevered arms capable of swinging between the opened and closed positions, and a cover panel adapted to be moved from a folded position to an extended position on the arms of the frame. Although not essential, a preferred form of the invention has the arms made removable so that the patio cover may be stored indoors during winter months or so that the patio cover may be installed in one of a group of selected locations in those instances wherein the owner so desires.

An important feature of the invention is found in the ease of handling the patio cover. It is very light. Further, it can be folded to a neat package both for display in merchandising the cover and for handling at home.

The cover may, of course, be used for many purposes, only one of which is to provide shade and shelter. In some instances owners may wish to protect the patio from falling leaves, insects, bugs, worms, etc. which fall from trees. Other owners will have other ideas as to the principal purpose and advantage of the patio cover peculiar to his requirements. Regardless of this, a patio cover in accordance with the invention may be so constructed as to be very easily handled, installed, and taken down.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the cover showing it in open position.

FIGURE 2 is a top view showing the cover in a partially closed position.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of the cover in the open position.

FIGURE 6 is a side elevational view similar to FIG- URE 5 but showing the cover in a partially closed position.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing a detail of construction.

FIGURE 9 is a side elevational view showing a different way of mounting the cover on a support.

In the accompanying drawings cover 10 illustrates one form of the invention. The cover is shown attached to a supporting structure, for instance wall 12, although it is within the purview of the invention to support the cover on other supporting structures, for example posts 14 (FIGURE 9). Other structural supports may be adopted in accordance with the desires of the owner.

Inasmuch as the cover is designed primarily for outdoor use and to cover certain areas, the invention is described in connection with a patio 16 although it is to be clearly understood that the cover may be used for other purposes.

Cover 10 is made of a frame 18 having two arms or sides 20 and 22, each of which is cantilevered and swing ingly supported. The arms have longer portions that are horizontal when mounted, and shorter vertical portions 24 and 26 respectively, each designed to be received in a special socket.

Typical socket 28 includes a tubular sleeve 30 or the like having a pair of holes 32 at the lower end thereof through which mounting bolt 34 extends (FIGURE 8). The mounting bolt also extends through one side 36 of an essentially U-shaped frame member 38, and there is a tubular spacer 40 in between side 36 and socket 30. Bolt 34 constitutes means by which to support a part of the frame, and it has a head at one end engaging socket 30 and a nut 44 near the opposite end and bearing against side 36. The inner extremity of the bolt is threaded into an anchor 46 that is secured rigidly and permanently to the support 12. Consequently, the bolt 34 can be removed thereby removing socket 28 as well as the arm 22 having its vertical portion 26 disposed in socket 28, and a part of the U-shaped frame member 38. Both arms are similarly supported.

The lower end of the portions 24 and 26 of arms 20 and 22 are similarly configured. They have downward- 1y opening notches 50 at the lower extremity thereof, there being four notches in all and the notches are arranged in pairs with the notches of each pair being diametrically opposed. Notches 5i) are configured to form saddles in which bolt 34 seats (see FIGURES 7 and 8) thereby holding arms 20 and 22 in a selected position. The arms are held extended at right angles to the plane of support structure 12 and are capable of being lifted slightly and turned 90 and dropped so that the bolt 3-4 engages in the other pair of notches thereby holding the arms in a position essentially parallel to the plane of support 12.

A flexible panel 52 is operatively connected with and constitutes part of the cover 10. The panel is made to cover the area between sides 20 and 22 and also to be folded in a pleated fashion. Panel 52 is made of a suitable 'fiexible material, for instance plastic, and it has a hem 54 along the front edge thereof within which transverse rib 56 is held captive. There are eyes 58 and 60 at the ends of rib 56, and these eyes are slidably disposed on and rotatably receive arms 20 and 22. A number of additional ribs identical to rib 56 are attached to panel 52 between the front and rear edges thereof. For instance, the illustration has two additional ribs 61 and 63. The inner end of the panel 52 has a hem 66 formed along its edge and embracing the intermediate part of the U-shaped frame member 38. Openings 68 are formed in the hem so that hooks 76 attached to support 12, may help support the U'shaped frame member 38.

There are locks at the extremities of rib 56 to hold the panel in the extended position. Each lock preferably consists of an adjustable chain 72 attached to an eye 74 on the cap 75 at the outer extremity of arm 20, there being an identical arrangement for the outer end of arm 22. The adjustable chain is simply looped around rib 5'6 (FIGURE 4) thereby holding the cover panel 52 extended. When so extended (FIGURE I) the ribs serve as structural supports for the arms 20 and 22, spanning the same.

In order to adjust the cover i.e. slide the panel 52 rearwardly, the locks (FIGURE 4) are released and the cover slid rearwardly toward frame member 38 with the ribs 56, 61 and 63 disposed between the portions 24 and 26 of arms 29 and 22. Pleats (FIGURE 6) are automatically formed in the cover panel. When the cover panel is moved rearwardly the full distance (FIGURE 2) the lower ends of the arms 20 and 22 are released i.e. unlocked, by lifting and turning them. as described previously. The movement of the arms depicted in FIGURE 2 comprises the next step in adjusting the cover to the closed position at which arms 20 and 22 are essentially parallel to each other and to the frame member 38.

As shown in FIGURE 3 eyes 58 are rotatably disposed in the ends of ribs 56, 61 and 63 by means of spindles 59. In this way the dropping of the eyes down upon the portions 24 and 26 of arms 20 and 22 is facilitated and the arms 20 and 22 may then be folded toward each other to osit-ion the cover 10 in the folded position (FIGURE 2).

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A portable cover comprising a pair of arms each including a substantially horizontally disposed outer end portion whose inner end curves laterally and terminates in a substantially vertically disposed inner end portion, means adapted to be secured to a structural support for mounting said inner end portions in laterally spaced relation and for rotational adjustment, at least one rib interconnecting said arms and provided with means on each end slidably engaging the outer horizontally disposed portion of the corresponding arm for sliding movement along substantially its entire length and rotatably and slidably engageable with the vertically disposed portion of the corresponding arm, a cover extending between said arms and having one outer end marginal portion secured to said rib for movement toward and away from said structural support with said rib upon movement of the latter outwardly and inwardly along said outer end portion of said arms when they are substantially parallel, said rib being slidably movable to a position disposed and secured between said inner end portions whereby said arms may be pivoted to positions with said outer end portions folded against said structural support.

2. The combination of claim 1 including means removably retaining said rib against movement toward said structural support from a position disposed between the outer ends of said arms.

3. The combination of claim 1 including means for securing the inner end marginal portions of said cover panel between the inner ends of said arms.

4. The combination of claim 3 including at least one additional rib interconnecting said arms, a mid-portion of said panel being secured to said additional rib for movement of said additional rib therewith upon movement of the outer end of said panel outwardly along said outer end portion of said arms.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said mounting means includes means for releasably retaining said arms in adjusted rotated position.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said mounting means includes means for securing the inner end marginal portion of said cover panel between the inner ends of said arms.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said mounting means includes a generally inverted U-shaped member including a pair of upstanding legs interconnected at their upper ends by means of a bight portion and having upright and upwardly opening cylindrical sleeve members supported from said legs in which said inner end portions are slidably and rotatably received, means in said sleeve members for limiting downward movement of said inner end portions therein to maintain portions thereof above said sleeve members for receiving said rib.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said limit means includes means for releasably retaining said arms in adjusted rotated positions.

9. In a shelter, a pair of sockets, means connected with said sockets for structurally supporting said sockets in an upright position, a pair of arms having substantially horizontal outer end portions whose inner ends curve laterally and terminate in substantially vertical inner end portions each telescopingly and rotatably received in a corresponding one of said sockets and having at least an upper portion projecting upwardly of the corresponding socket, at least one rib interconnecting said arms and provided with means on each end slidably engaging at least the outer horizontally disposed portion of the corresponding arm for sliding movement along substantially its entire length and rotatably and slidably engaging the vertically disposed portion of the corresponding arm, a cover extending between said arms and having an outer end marginal portion secured to said rib for movement toward and away from said structural support with said rib upon movement of the latter outwardly and inwardly along the outer end portions of said arms when they are substantially parallel, said rib being slidably movable to a position disposed and secured between said upper portions of said inner end portions whereby said arms may be pivoted to positions with said outer end portions folded against said structural support.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said sockets includes means releasably retaining said arms in adjusted rotated positions.

11. The combination of claim 1 wherein said mounting means includes a generally inverted U-shaped member including a pair of upstanding legs interconnected at their upper ends by means of a bight portion and having upright and upwardly opening cylindrical sleeve members supported from said legs in which said inner end portions are slidably and rotatably received, means in said sleeve members for limiting downward movement of said inner end portions therein to maintain portions thereof above said sleeve members for receiving said rib, the inner end marginal portion of said cover being secured to the bight portion of said inverted U-shaped member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 36,251 Watkins Aug. 19, 1862 566,815 Taylor Sept. 1, 1896 795,105 Crowe July 18, 1905 1,180,124 Faedisch Apr. 18, 1916 1,881,366 McCanliss Oct. 4, 1932 2,556,210 Obenchain June 12, 1951 2,584,035 Lendle Jan. 29, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 144,587 Austria Feb. 10, 1936 

